Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-19
BATTLE AMONG ANTS.
DETAILS OF AN INTERESTING FIGHT
WHICH LASTED FIVE HOURS.

|
Hand Z" Hand sfr"ggi~-soidfers
Of Reckless Daring-Distinction he
,w.., Friend and ro.-nr,vr,,x O1
"' WV
In the summer a wear ago a swarm of black
ants tFormica Pennsylvanica) built their nests
between the ceiling and the roof Of A shed
near our dwelling. IN the suburbs of PhHadel
phia At q distance OF a few hundred feet
from the shed q second colony of the same
sp..cies had also built a home in a sheltered
place. Both nests were unusually populous
Battles between ants Of different species
fought for the purpose Of capturing slaves
have been often described But on bright
morning in August was a witness of a fight
between tbes. two colonies of the same
species, which could have been waged for no
such purpose, and which gave the occasion
for n greater display of foretbougbt on tn.
part of the combatants than is usually con-
ce,ie,i even to the ant. The nest in the roof
was the one attacked. The only approach to
it from the ground was by post and plas-
tered wall about six feet high A smooth
plank floor fitted closely against the wall and
post and was raised above the ground by a
low StpD his noDr was the OF the
conflict,
In all nv rep.ated study of these nests and
their inhabitants during the summer months
the small workers were the only ones who
seemed to labor. They did all the foraging,
and it Was unusual to see one of the larger
workers outside of the entrance of the nest,
which. however. they faithfully guarded
The conduct of the latter so much mere
I q
kindred species that in speaking Of them in
this paper | shall call them soldiers, because
they certainly performed all the duties of a
soldier and 80 far as could be seen, did moth
ing else
When | saw them on the morning Of the
battle both the small workers and the large
ones. or soldiers, were out on the wall, post
and floor in great numbers. There was 10
fight then going on. A strong force of sol
diers held every approach at the foot of the
post and wall. smaller bodies were formed in
regular lines half way up the post, and large,
outstanding groups were stationed at close
distances here and there upon the floor and
step. and running y and down the post sup
porting the nest
| While l stood wondering at the unusual
commotion / saw at the distance of few
feet host Of small workers, closely followed
! by great horde of soldiers, streaming along
a fence from the other distant nest. They
must have numbered thousands In very
| short time these hostile workers had descended
the fence to the ground, swarmed up the step
to the door and poured in crowds upon the
defensive scouts The antagonists rushed
upon each other, and with their strong jaws
cut off here a leg and there an antenna and
l ,b.. Of
ut blow. The foremost soldiers of the de-
fensive party came to the rescue, and the
swarm Of hostile workers were driven back
toward the step.
But by this time the soldiers of the attack
ing party had reached the floor, moving de
liberately onward in dense black mas.
crushing their smaller foes As they advanced.
In a few moments the small workers were
either all killed Or retired from the front.
Then the battle between the soldiers of the
opposing forces began in earnest Hating q
moment till their ranks were close and com
pact, though by no means regular, the in
vaders advanced to the attack In a dense
mass, seeming To completely cover the floor
over which they moved In this close array
they met the defenders, whom they greatly
outuumbered. They were received, however,
Will n hs kftdt a. oNli. anu
their ranks were quickly broken up and
thrown into apparent disorder
After the general charge had been thus
made and the combatants were mixed in an
undistinguishable crowd, single champions
were seen rushing around the floor seeking a
foe. When two of these champions ap-
preached each other a mutual examination
with the ends Of their antenna now seemed
10 tall friapl Many S,,,.p
meetings were friendly, and after the saluta-
ton both would rush away at full speed.
But when, by the delicate test of feeling or
whatever serves them to thus distinguish,
each had found an enemy, they rushed upon
one another with the utmost rage, clirched
both with feet and jaws, and doubling them
selves up. rolled over the floor, biting and
tearing each other, entirely undisturbed in
their deadly work by being lifted UP into the
air with pair Of forceps At one time the
floor was nearly black with these rolling COM
hatants
As the battle progressed the superior num-
bers of the invaders drove the defenders of
their home slowly backward to the foot OF
the post. Then a number of the small
workers. who had been stationed upon the
post, ran rapidly UP to the nest. In a mo-
ment a fresh army Of soldiers. numbering
many hundreds, rushed from the nest, and,
descending the post, passel the guards at the
base and fell upon the victorious foe, driving
them back slowly, but steadily, to the edge OF
the step. The guards at the Lase of the post
did not apuear to leave their station to engage
In the General fight. and only took part in it
st all when the attacking soldiers tried to pass
them TO reach the nest.
II. e.l, l,s,.,l ,h,,,, ,-a ho,rs .n1 nm, laJ